2016 in Review

Stay the Course

Life has a way of throwing curve balls, presenting diversions for consideration or challenging our goals and aspirations. We’ve been guilty of chasing the “next shiny object”, believing it will be the ONE that takes us to our desired destination. Fortunately each of those experiences has served a purpose, to develop new skills, to introduce us to new people and to assist in clarifying who we are, what we’re best suited to deliver to others during the journey we call life and how we’re to obtain satisfaction while doing it.

2016 fell short for our financial goals, but we survived, made some much needed changes and are prepared to make 2017 much better – professionally and personally. With the benefit of knowing, regardless of the curve balls we encounter, they too shall pass and we can continue to build and achieve the life WE desire.

Growing Up

We hear the question asked of children and graduates, “What do you want to do with your life”? We’ve asked ourselves that question on and off for many years, sometimes allowing the expectations of others to dictate our response. At other times permitting our clouded view of our strengths, passions and aspirations to provide a canned response.

Rick was offered a few “opportunities” during 2016 to return to a cube in the corporate world; opportunities that would provide immediate short-term financial relief, but would force him to put his entrepreneurial aspirations on hold. Opportunities that helped him clarify his passion to serve businesses through the skills he’s acquired.

Rick continues to work as a partner in a marketing firm. Marketing, you say. What the heck does an engineer with a 24 year career as an IT Project Manager know about marketing? Turns out, plenty! Rick’s education, experience and skills are allowing him to develop creative solutions to marketing problems by employing one simple strategy – placing himself in his client or client’s prospect shoes, looking around and asking good questions. In 2016 he assisted with the company’s re-branding (new company is called Intercept Marketing, LLC), helped create and improve processes and launched new offerings (see 3 Growth Ideas, Client Poacher and Website Release) to generate revenue (with more to come in 2017).

He’s also using his time and talents to support Dream Builders University that creates programs for at risk students, develop educators and create tools for positive behavior support. Seems his 20 years in the classroom as a Junior Achievement volunteer continues to add value.

Anita delayed her plans to return to real estate to continue rescuing more cats in our community through the Pet Alliance program Clermont Pets Alive. The total number of animals saved through her efforts is well over 1,000 and her almost 7,000 facebook fans provide encouragement and resources to continue her efforts. Cats that would otherwise die cold and alone outside, others who would have been “euthanized” at the animal shelter due to overcrowding and still many more she helped re-home from one loving family to another.

Manny is still with us. We’ve been “fostering” him for over a year and he’s become a valued member of the family. Rick runs with him on Sundays (the day he runs for fitness), plays fetch with him a few days a week and tug of war almost every night. Manny has been a blessing in disguise but we look forward to placing him in a new forever home where he can roam freely (he’s crated when in the house just in case one of the cats makes a run for it, we’re not sure what he’ll do if he catches one).

Anita experienced one reason why placing Manny has proven to be a challenge – he’s so strong he pulled her down one evening on a walk, breaking her wrist so bad she had to have surgery to repair it. The surgery has healed and she completed physical therapy, but is still cautious with use of her left hand (Manny misses their walks). Anita was injured next door as they finished their walk. Manny saw a cat in the neighbor’s yard as they rounded a car in their driveway. He pulled to chase the cat, dragging Anita to the ground. To his credit, he returned after the cat got away to see if Anita was OK. Manny seeks a dog savvy adopter without young children, with big breed experience, that loves to run, walk and play ball. If you know anyone, please ask them to visit AdoptManny.com  and complete the application.

Website Updates

The Barron’s Place upgrades from FrontPage to WordPress are progressing slowly. The upgrades for Andrew, Sally and Grace are complete. I plan to upgrade Kendra, Dick and Anita in 2017 (saving Rick and Mia for 2018).

I made a very small dent in the PILE of slides I inherited from Dad. Most are from our time in Japan and can be viewed on the Family Treasure Chest. It’s been fun to relive these memories, most from trips Mom and Dad took without us while we stayed home with Yako, our maid.

Travel Log

Rick did the bulk of the travel this year while Anita remained home to pet site and rescue (she plans to change that in 2017). He returned to Bonne Terre Mine in Missouri with his business partner Ben to enjoy diving the world’s largest underground lake. They were also able to dive in the shark tank at the Newport Aquarium (a benefit of building their website).

Rick traveled to Jacksonville to visit Mia and Anna on Spring Break. The ladies showed him some local sights, they canoed the St. John River and Rick learned a very valuable lesson – he’s not a trail runner (ask him to share the details the next time you see him)! Mia is still working as a paraprofessional, while Anna is finishing her senior year of high school (2 years early). Anna’s planning to study Marine Biology in college next year and will have an Associate’s Degree when she graduates from high school (what vision and discipline). Mia broke up with her long-time boy friend (and is enjoying her new freedom), has a few new tattoos while Anna is dating her first boy friend and (still) has no tattoos. Rick returned to Jacksonville to see Anna compete in the Florida finals of the National American Miss Pageant. Anna did not place but gained new poise and self-confidence.

Rick attended 4 reunions, his 35th High School Reunion, the Barron Family Reunion, a Fraternity Reunion and the Schwegler Family Reunion. Rick is still close to a few of his high school friends and teachers. Returning to Sterling, VA reminded him why he left (TRAFFIC), but allowed him to refresh, rekindle and reunite with those who helped mold the man we know today. The Barron Family collected in Williamsburg, VA and was joined by Denise and Dana Mlekush (with Dana’s husband Jim). Matt and Ellen Mlekush and their 5 children (Matt, Diane, Denise, Dana and Debra) were our extended family while living in San Diego and Sterling Park. We hope they’ll join us at the 2017 Barron Reunion in Tennessee.

Rick reached out to a few of his Sigma Chi brothers in 2016 and heard a recurring theme – when are we getting back together? He “influenced” his little brother Tom to host the celebration, then arrived early to help with the preparations. They had a chance to visit the Case campus and tour their old Fraternity house (it’s now the Undergraduate Admission Office). The weather provided some challenges the day of the event, but it could not dampen the brotherhood and friendship felt by the Sigma Chi’s, their spouses or their children. It truly was a magical experience and maybe Tom will repeat the magic yearly!

Rick was unable to make his annual trek to visit his Mother Sally in 2015 and was determined to visit in 2016. His travel plans were delayed at the last minute to take advantage of a gathering of Schwegler’s in Southern California. All but two of Sally’s siblings were able to attend with a host of cousins. Rick’s SO GLAD he delayed his trip to take advantage of the opportunity to visit and reconnect with extended family. The original trip itinerary was packed with activities, none of which made it into the plans for the rescheduled trip and Rick’s thrilled they did not. His time with Mom was precious, far better than some museum or other experience.

Anita joined Rick on a trip to Florida to attend a workshop hosted by Gary Ryan Blair titled “Unleash Your Greatness”. The trip was a gift from Rick’s friend Carol (from Toastmasters) who loves Gary (and apparently Rick and Anita as well). It was a quick “business-like” trip, airport to conference and back. We enjoyed the break from the Cincinnati winter and the time with Carol and her family. Carol and Rick aren’t spending as much time together since he made the choice to drop Toastmasters from his schedule. Rick received the Distinguished Toastmaster Award in the spring (Toastmaster International’s highest designation).

Family Log

Kevin’s son Andrew is a freshman at James Madison University studying Nursing. Grace is a junior and starting to tour colleges with Tina while Will is getting comfortable in his first year of high school. Kevin was hired full-time by the consulting company that placed him with the Virginia Department of Transportation and Tina is growing in her role working for a small Life Science and Engineering Services company.

Kendra’s son A.J. is in 8th grade and has returned to playing the guitar. Kendra continues her career as a Paralegal while Eric runs his IT Consulting Company.

Closing Thoughts

Reviewing how we spent our time in 2016 and who we chose to spend it with, connecting with family and friends continues to be an ever increasing priority. Trips we may not have made time for in the past were taken, others were increased in scope to include more connections and some we thought we couldn’t afford were taken. We hope you’ll join us on life’s broad highway, visiting on your way through or around Cincinnati, including us in your travel plans or touching base via a postcard, email, text or phone call. We’ll continue to include you in our thoughts, prayers and discussions and look forward to what 2017 holds for each of us.

With All Our Love,

 and 

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